Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, there is disclosed a printed circuit board having a surface providing a mating interface to which is electrically connected an electrical connector having signal conductors and ground conductors. The printed circuit board includes a plurality of stacked dielectric layers, with a conductor disposed on at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers. The mating interface includes a plurality of conductive vias aligned in a plurality of rows, with the plurality of conductive vias extending through at least a portion of the plurality of dielectric layers, at least one of the plurality of conductive vias intersecting the conductor. The plurality of conductive vias includes signal conductor connecting conductive vias and ground conductor connecting conductive vias.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, there is disclosed a printed circuit board having a surface providing a mating interface to which is electrically connected an electrical connector having signal conductors and ground conductors. The printed circuit board includes a plurality of stacked dielectric layers, with a conductor disposed on at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers. The mating interface includes a plurality of conductive vias aligned in a plurality of rows, with the plurality of conductive vias extending through at least a portion of the plurality of dielectric layers, at least one of the plurality of conductive vias intersecting the conductor. The plurality of conductive vias includes signal conductor connecting conductive vias and ground conductor connecting conductive vias.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an electrical connector connectable to a printed circuit board, the electrical connector having an insulative housing including side walls and a base. The electrical connector also includes signal conductors and ground conductors. Each of the signal conductors and ground conductors has a first contact end connectable to the printed circuit board, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion therebetween that is disposed in the base of the insulative housing. The signal conductors and the ground conductors are arranged in a plurality of rows, with each row having signal conductors and ground conductors. For each of the plurality of rows, there is a corresponding ground strip positioned adjacent thereto disposed in the base of the insulative housing. And the ground strip is electrically connected to the ground conductors of the row.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical connector assembly having a first electrical connector mateable to a second electrical connector. In one embodiment, the first electrical connector includes a plurality of wafers, with each wafer having an insulative housing, a plurality of signal conductors and a shield plate. A portion of the shield plate is exposed so that a conductive member can electrically connect the shield plates of the wafers at the exposed portion of the shield plate. In one embodiment, the second electrical connector includes an insulative housing, and a plurality of signal conductors and ground conductors in a plurality of rows. Each row corresponds to a wafer of the first electrical connector. Each signal conductor has a contact tail and each ground conductors has two contact tails.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, there is disclosed a printed circuit board having a surface providing a mating interface to which is electrically connected an electrical connector having signal conductors and ground conductors. The printed circuit board includes a plurality of stacked dielectric layers, with a conductor disposed on at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers. The mating interface includes a plurality of conductive vias aligned in a plurality of rows, with the plurality of conductive vias extending through at least a portion of the plurality of dielectric layers, at least one of the plurality of conductive vias intersecting the conductor. The plurality of conductive vias includes signal conductor connecting conductive vias and ground conductor connecting conductive vias.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector in which multi-beam contacts are used to improve performance of the connector. The beams are positioned to create multiple current paths through a shield member, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the shield. These contacts are used in a connector that has individual shield strips running in parallel with signal conductors. Multiple contact tails are also used to create multiple current paths. Projections from the shield strips shield adjacent signal contacts and the contact portions are positioned to increase current flow through the projections. Structures to allow beam-type contacts to be formed in a small space are also disclosed. The contact structure also reduces the impedance of the ground path.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector in which multi-beam contacts are used to improve performance of the connector. The beams are positioned to create multiple current paths through a shield member, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the shield. These contacts are used in a connector that has individual shield strips running in parallel with signal conductors. Multiple contact tails are also used to create multiple current paths. Projections from the shield strips shield adjacent signal contacts and the contact portions are positioned to increase current flow through the projections. Structures to allow beam-type contacts to be formed in a small space are also disclosed. The contact structure also reduces the impedance of the ground path.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an electrical connector connectable to a printed circuit board on one end, which includes an insulative housing and a plurality of insulative posts disposed in the insulative housing, with the insulative posts arranged in at least one row. Each of the insulative posts has a first side and a second side, and the insulative posts extend in a direction away from the printed circuit board. A plurality of signal conductors are provided, with each signal conductor having a first contact end connectable to the printed circuit board, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion therebetween that is disposed in the insulative housing, wherein the signal conductors are disposed along the first side of the insulative posts.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an electrical connector connectable to a printed circuit board, and having ground conductors and signal conductors in a plurality of rows. Each of the plurality of rows includes a plurality of ground conductors and signal conductors, with each signal conductor having at least one corresponding ground conductor. Each signal conductor has a contact tail that electrically connects to the printed circuit board, and each corresponding ground conductor has at least two contact tails that electrically connect to the printed circuit board. The contact tails of the signal conductors and the ground conductors are positioned relative to one another so that for each signal conductor contact tail, there are ground conductor contact tails adjacent either side of the signal conductor contact tail.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an electrical connector attachable to a printed circuit board and including an insulative housing. A plurality of signal conductors are provided, with each signal conductor having a first contact end, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion therebetween that is disposed in the insulative housing. A plurality of corresponding shield strips are provided, with each shield strip having a first contact end, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion therbetween that is disposed in the insulative housing adjacent one of the plurality of singnal conductors. Each intermediate portion of the shield strip has a surface with a first edge and a second edge, at least one of the first edge or the second edge being bent such that when the plurality of signal conductors and the corresponding shield strips are disposed in the insulative housing, the bent edge of the intermediate portion is directed toward the corresponding signal conductor.